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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Magic Genius with Korean Patch 8
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"Ah, I'm full."
It had been a week since Jeon started staying in Brea Village.
In that time, not only had he adapted somewhat to village life, but he was also feeling quite satisfied.
"Eating your fill really is true happiness."
During his days as a slave in the exploration party, Jeon had never once felt full.
The food they served back then was some murky gruel he couldn't even identify and a single piece of rock-hard bread that was more tough than chewy.
But things were different now.
There was no meat, but he could eat his fill of soup loaded with various vegetables and bread that was a bit tough but chewable enough to swallow.
Yet humans are animals that know no satisfaction, or so they say.
"...I want some ramen."
And kimchi to go with it, and rice mixed into the leftover broth after.
Even though the food was far better than during his slave days, Jeon couldn't be fully content.
The flavors were bland, and there was a lack of spices, so the more he ate, the more he craved the foods from his previous life.
'To try something even similar... I'd have to head to a bigger city.'
But expecting that in a small village like Brea was asking too much.
So Jeon decided to be satisfied with just being full for now.
'Plus, I've got a house now.'
It was rundown, but having his own space was a huge plus.
For Jeon, who had slept in temporary barracks shared with others or communal slave tents, even a shabby and modest house of his own was a massive change.
"Of course, it's not all free."
The house aside, the abundant food he ate every day wasn't just handed to him.
He'd traded the orc corpse for the initial house, essentials, a few clothes, and some food, but the reason he could eat plentifully every day was something else.
'They're investing in me, in their own way.'
Knock knock.
"Jeon, you in there?"
While Jeon was lost in thought for a moment, a knock came at the door, followed by a young girl's voice from the other side.
"Yeah, I'm here."
"Can I come in?"
"Sure."
Creeak.
With Jeon's permission, the door opened, and in came a girl who looked about his age.
Jeon had seen her often in the past few days, so he knew exactly who she was.
"Rina, what brings you all the way here?"
"Today's the day you work in my dad's field. I'm here to get you."
Rina smiled as she answered Jeon's question.
But even at her expression, Jeon responded somewhat curtly.
"I know the way now, so you don't need to come get me."
"Still, what if you get lost...? You haven't been in the village long."
"...Thanks, I appreciate it."
Jeon started to say more but stopped, nodding with a simple thanks.
Her kind tone might make it seem rude to react this way to someone who came to fetch him, but there was a reason.
'This is getting burdensome.'
The way Rina looked at him, how she fidgeted and twisted her body during conversation, the blush on her cheeks.
All of it showed that Rina liked Jeon.
But Rina was only thirteen.
Even if their physical ages matched, to Jeon—a man in his thirties from his original life in Korea—she didn't feel romantic at all.
'Not sure if it's real liking, anyway.'
Plus, it was ambiguous whether her behavior was genuine.
Most of the village girls his age acted the same way around him.
And Jeon knew exactly why the girls reacted like that.
'It's all because their parents tell them to.'
An orphaned outsider, just a boy in his early teens, but one who'd taken down an orc single-handedly as a mercenary.
That prowess alone made him the top marriage prospect in the village.
That was why Jeon could eat his fill every day.
"Ah, want me to clean up your dishes?"
"Nah, leave it. It's my house; I'll clean it."
So Jeon stopped Rina's show of affection and roughly cleared his spot.
Rina stood awkwardly while he finished cleaning and got ready to leave, then quickly sidled up to him.
"Let's hurry; Dad's waiting."
"...Hup."
Jeon involuntarily held his breath as Rina approached.
There was no other reason.
'What's that smell...!'
The stench was just too strong.
With hygiene standards from his previous life, Jeon had washed at the water's edge whenever possible even as a slave.
And since coming to Brea Village, he never skipped washing at the nearby stream every morning.
But the people of Brea Village were different.
At best, they bathed once a week; at worst, once a month.
Not only that, but without frequent laundry, their clothes absorbed the body odor, so as Rina drew near, her bodily scent assaulted Jeon's nose.
'I just can't get used to it.'
As a slave rolling in the dirt, his own smell blended in, dulling the effect, but now that he washed daily, the contrast was stark.
And living among such people was one thing; having them show affection and stick close was another.
"Got it, but let's keep some distance for now."
So Jeon gently pushed away the clinging Rina.
"You only act cold to me, Jeon. That's mean!"
"...It's not just you. I'm like that with everyone."
Rina grumbled at Jeon's action, but he swallowed his inner thoughts and soothed her.
He wanted to yell that she stank and to minimize movement, but he couldn't.
'Most of my food comes from her dad.'
Rina's father, Ritten, was one of the few in the village with a field, alongside the chief.
In other words, Ritten was one of Brea's wealthiest and most influential men.
Considering he supplied most of Jeon's food, Jeon couldn't treat Rina poorly.
Besides, aside from the smell, her behavior wasn't a big issue.
"Ha."
Better than slave life, but still not easy, Jeon sighed involuntarily.
"What's up, Jeon? Something wrong? Why the sigh?"
"Nah, nothing. I'm fine."
Rina tried to approach again at his demeanor, but Jeon held out a hand to stop her.
"Feeling sick? Want the day off? I can tell Dad. If you need nursing, I can..."
"Let's go; the old man's waiting."
Despite her persistent attempts, Jeon bolted toward the field.
His quick, vigorous steps seemed to emphasize he was healthy.
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"Phew."
Jeon wiped sweat from his forehead while working the field.
It wasn't that hot yet, but constant movement made sweat inevitable.
'This is nothing.'
Still, it was worlds apart from his recent slave labor.
In Brea Village now, Jeon was a hot commodity and premium labor.
Field work was nominal; he could choose tasks he wanted, avoiding the dirty jobs.
So he mostly waited in one spot, handling requests like fetching items or helping where hands were short.
It might seem lonely, but Jeon loved it.
'Being alone is better.'
His body stayed comfortable, and he escaped their body odors and sweat smells.
He was adapting bit by bit, but no need to mingle and suffer for it.
"There you are. How's the work treating you?"
"Ah, Uncle Ritten."
While idly waiting, Rina's father—one of the village's rich men—approached stealthily.
"Your complexion looks much healthier these days."
"Thanks to you taking such good care of me, Uncle."
As Ritten said, a week of good eating had plumped Jeon's face noticeably.
He still looked slim, but gone was the gaunt, skeletal look; now he appeared much more human.
"A growing boy needs to eat his fill!"
"Thank you for looking out for me."
"No need. You'll do big things for the village; this is nothing."
"Haha, I don't have much talent..."
"Nonsense! You took down an orc solo—what's that? You'll definitely do great things here in Brea!"
He tried modest deflection from the close-up praise, but it fell flat.
And Ritten's shoulder pats felt like silent pressure to settle down here.
'Not planning to.'
But Jeon had no intention of putting down roots in Brea.
Better than slavery, but conditions were still poor.
'I want a bigger village, a bigger city, a proper place.'
Humans always want more: standing to sitting, sitting to lying. Jeon, reborn without grand goals, still wanted to live well.
"This place is so remote in the territory that even small, all sorts happen. Especially once a month, beasts or monsters cause trouble. Wouldn't a mercenary like you stepping up be perfect?"
Unaware of Jeon's thoughts, Ritten listed benefits of staying and contributions Jeon could make.
"And you're still doing afternoon patrols outside the village?"
"Ah, yes."
"Good, good. We have hunter Jefferson, but another guardian would be ideal. Then you show up—fate, right?"
"Yeah, glad I can help the village."
He gave the textbook response, but Jeon genuinely liked the patrol job.
Alone time let him do his own things.
"Great attitude! And you said no hometown or family, living as a mercenary? You're young, you don't get it yet, but home and family matter."
Like he'd waited for this, Ritten's boomer lecture flowed endlessly.
"So make this village your home, start a family. Not just any girl—someone proper, like our Rina..."
Subtly pushing his daughter too.
'...Medieval boomers are no joke.'
No slouch compared to those from his past office life.
Ignoring half didn't help; the waterfall of nagging was overwhelming.
"Ah, hold on. Someone wants me to fetch something over there?"
"Huh? Jeon? But I'm in the middle of something impor—"
Jeon tossed an excuse and bolted before Ritten could grab him.
"Wait, wait! I have more to say...!"
Ritten chased, talking more, but Jeon quickened his pace.
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"Not pleased."
Over the past week, Brea Village had been abuzz with Jeon's arrival.
Not just girls seeing him as husband material, but influential folks eyeing his orc-slaying skills.
Jeon was the center of attention.
"They're all crazy."
But not everyone liked him.
"...Too uneasy. Need to warn again."
In a hut on the village outskirts, a man—Jefferson—stood.
Brea's sole hunter, he wore all-black: clothes, face wrapped in black cloth, eyes only exposed.
Creeak.
Exiting the hut, he headed not to the outer forest but into the village.
But via paths away from main routes.
Sticking to secluded trails, he detoured to the village's largest field.
Spotting a familiar face, he called out casually.
"Hey, Rina."
"Eek! You scared me!"
Jefferson meant it casually, but the sudden voice in a deserted spot made Rina drop her basket in fright.
"J-Jefferson, Uncle...?"
"Yeah."
Rina calmed herself and recognized him, but Jefferson ignored her reaction.
"Ah, here for Dad?"
"No, not Ritten. Where's that guy?"
"That guy...?"
"The outsider."
"Oh."
Rina hesitated, knowing who he meant.
'Uncle Jefferson hates Jeon.'
From day one, Jefferson disliked Jeon—a known fact.
So Rina balked at telling him.
"Where is he?"
"Uh... well... Eek!"
She stalled as he pressed, but meeting his eyes through the black cloth, she gasped in fear and spilled it.
"J-J-Jeon finished morning field work and left early, saying he had afternoon duties."
"Afternoon duties...?"
"Probably his usual patrol..."
"Tch."
Jefferson clicked his tongue and left immediately.
Left behind, Rina still trembled.
"That guy's eyes, his tone—everything's creepy! A creep like that as village hunter! I'll tell Dad!"
Confirming he was gone, she vented her complaints loudly.
'Damn brat. Maybe make her the next target.'
Her loud grumbling reached Jefferson, not far off.
He wanted to punish her loose tongue, but now wasn't the time.
'...First, shut down that outsider.'
Swallowing anger, he headed to the outskirts to find Jeon.